Ironing board assembly magnetically connectable to a household appliance

ABSTRACT

There is provided an ironing board assembly. The assembly includes a planar member having a bottom and a top upon which an item of clothing may be ironed. The assembly includes a pair of spaced-apart, horizontally-extending supports coupled to the bottom of the planar member. The supports are elongate in the longitudinal direction. The supports have bottoms which are spaced-apart from the planar member. The supports function to elevate the planar member to enable the item of clothing to at least partially extend around the planar member. The assembly includes magnets coupled to the bottoms of respective ones of the supports. The magnets enable the ironing board assembly to selectively magnetically connect to a surface made of a ferromagnetic material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

There is provided an ironing board assembly. In particular, there is provided an ironing board assembly which is magnetically connectable to a household appliance.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,104 to Mullenbach discloses a portable ironing board assembly which allows the ironing board to be mounted with magnets on a household appliance for convenient use and storage. The assembly has a portable mounting frame. The assembly has an ironing board pivotally mounted on the frame for raising to a substantially horizontal position for use and for lowering to a substantially vertical position for storage. The assembly has an ironing board support to help maintain the ironing board's horizontal position. The assembly has magnets affixed to the portable mounting frame for attaching the frame to a mounting surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,573 to Kuncken discloses a reversible, magnetic ironing surface. The ironing surface includes: (a) a generally rectangular-shaped, flexible pad portion including a first, quilted, heat resistant layer; and a second, opposite, generally smooth, heat resistant layer on an opposite side of the pad portion; and (b) at least one magnet in each corner section of the pad portion. The pad assembly has an expanded, open position for use and a compact, bundled position for transport or storage, and in the expanded position, the pad portion is reversible for use on either side. The first or second layer includes a metal.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

There is provided, and it is an object to provide, an improved ironing board assembly. The assembly includes a planar member having a bottom and a top upon which items may be ironed. The assembly includes at least one horizontally-extending support. The support has a bottom and a top coupled to the bottom of the planar member. The assembly includes a magnet operatively connected to the bottom of the at least one horizontally-extending support.

There is also provided an ironing board assembly. The assembly includes a planar member having a bottom and a top upon which an item of clothing may be ironed. The assembly includes a pair of spaced-apart, horizontally-extending supports coupled to the bottom of the planar member. The supports are elongate in the longitudinal direction. The supports have bottoms which are spaced-apart from the planar member. The supports function to elevate the planar member to enable the item of clothing to at least partially extend around the planar member. The assembly includes magnets coupled to the bottoms of respective ones of the supports. The magnets enable the ironing board assembly to selectively magnetically connect to a surface made of a ferromagnetic material.

There is further provided an ironing board assembly. The ironing board assembly includes a frame assembly having a top and a bottom spaced-apart from the top. The frame assembly includes a pair of spaced-apart end members. The frame assembly includes a pair of spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending members coupled to and extending between the end members. The frame assembly includes a pair of spaced-apart, laterally-extending members interposed between the end members. The laterally-extending members couple to and extend between the longitudinally-extending members. The ironing board assembly includes a mesh extending along the top of the frame assembly and upon which an item of clothing may be ironed. The ironing board assembly includes a pair of spaced-apart, horizontally-extending supports coupled to the bottom of the frame assembly. The supports have bottoms spaced-apart from the frame assembly. The ironing board assembly includes magnets coupled to the bottoms of the supports for magnetically coupling the ironing board assembly to a top of a household appliance.

There is yet further provided a magnetic mounting accessory for an ironing board assembly. The assembly includes a base. The accessory is elongate and has a recessed portion shaped to receive at least a portion of the base of the ironing board assembly. The accessory has an elongate bottom and includes a magnet coupled to said bottom. The magnet enables the ironing board assembly to selectively magnetically connect to a surface made of a ferromagnetic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top, side perspective view of an ironing board assembly according to a first aspect;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the ironing board assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the ironing board assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a clothes dryer together with the ironing board assembly of FIG. 1 magnetically connected to the top thereof;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an ironing board assembly according to a second aspect, the assembly including a frame assembly, a pair of spaced-apart legs, a receptacle slidably mounted to the legs and a clothes iron received by the receptacle;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the assembly of FIG. 5, with the frame assembly being removed, the receptacle being shown in an expanded position and the dotted lines showing the receptacle positioned in its retracted position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of an ironing board assembly according to a third aspect, the assembly including a u-shaped support upon which magnetic strip couples and extends;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the support and magnetic strip of FIG. 7, with the rest of the assembly of FIG. 7 not being shown;

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevation view of the support and magnetic strip of FIG. 7 taken along lines 9-9 of the assembly shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of an ironing board assembly according to a fourth aspect, the assembly including a u-shaped support and a plurality of accessories coupled to said support;

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the support and accessories of FIG. 10, with the rest of the assembly of FIG. 10 not being shown;

FIG. 12 is a sectional elevation view of the support of FIG. 10 taken along lines 12-12 of the assembly shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a top, side perspective view of one of the accessories of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of an ironing board assembly according to a fifth aspect, the assembly including a u-shaped support and a plurality of accessories coupled to said support, each of the accessories comprising two parts;

FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the support and accessories of FIG. 14, with the rest of the assembly of FIG. 14 not being shown;

FIG. 16 is a sectional elevation view of the support of FIG. 14 taken along lines 16-16 of the assembly shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is an exploded, top, side perspective view of the two parts of one of the accessories of FIG. 15; and

FIG. 18 is a top, side perspective view of the two parts of said one of the accessories of FIG. 17 coupled together.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, there is shown an ironing board assembly 20. The assembly includes a planar member, in this example in the form of a frame assembly 22. The frame assembly is made of wooden framing in this example; however, this is not strictly required and the frame assembly may be made of other materials in other embodiments. The frame assembly 22 has a top 24 and a bottom 26 which is spaced-apart from the top. The frame assembly includes a pair of spaced-apart, rigid end members 28 and 30. End member 28 is straight and laterally-extending in this example. End member 30 is arcuate-shaped and semi-annular in this example.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the frame assembly 22 includes a pair of spaced-apart, rigid, longitudinally-extending side members 32 and 34. The side members are coupled to and extend between end members 28 and 30. As seen in FIG. 4, the ironing board assembly 20 has a longitudinal length L which is equal to the distance of separation between the outer edges of the end members 28 and 30. Referring back to FIG. 3, the frame assembly 22 further includes a pair of spaced-apart, rigid, laterally-extending brace members 36 and 38 interposed between the end members of the frame assembly. The brace members couple to and extend between the side members 32 and 34. Members 28, 24, 26, 36 and 38 are generally in the shape of rectangular prisms in this example. Each of the members 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 of the frame assembly 22 is rectangular in cross-section in this example. The members of the frame assembly are connected together and form a unitary whole in this embodiment.

The frame assembly 22 may thus be said to include a rigid peripheral portion in this example in the form of end members 28 and 30 and side members 32 and 34. The frame assembly may also be said to include a pair of rigid laterally-extending portions in the form of brace members 36 and 38.

As seen in FIG. 1, the frame assembly 22 includes a first aperture 40 enclosed by members 28, 32, 34 and 36, a second aperture 42 enclosed by members 32, 34, 36 and 38 and a third aperture 44 enclosed by members 32, 34 and 30 in this example. Apertures 40 and 42 are rectangular when viewed from above in this example and aperture 44 is semi-circular in shape when view from above in this example.

The ironing board assembly 20 further includes a mesh, in this example steel mesh 46 coupled to and extending along the top 24 of the frame assembly 22. The mesh need not, strictly speaking, be made of steel and may be made of other materials in other embodiments. An item of clothing (not shown) may be ironed on top of the mesh. The mesh is contiguous with the area covered by the frame assembly 22 in this example. As seen in FIG. 4, a padded covering 48 extends overtop of the mesh and is configured to function as a smooth and soft surface upon which the item of clothing may rest while it is ironed.

The frame assembly 22 described above is one example of a suitable frame assembly. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other frame assemblies may be used in other embodiments.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the ironing board assembly 20 includes a pair of spaced-apart, horizontally-extending supports in this example legs 50 and 52 coupled to the bottom 26 of the frame assembly 22. The legs have tops 54 seen in FIG. 1 and bottoms 56, seen in FIG. 3. The bottoms of the legs 50 and 52 are spaced-apart from the tops of the legs and spaced-apart from the frame assembly 22. The legs are substantially rectangular prisms in shape in this example. End members 28 and 30 and side members 32 and 34 of the frame assembly 22 are spaced-apart outwardly from the legs in this example.

Each of the legs has a pair of spaced-apart ends between which their bottom and top extends. This is seen in FIG. 3 by ends 58 and 60 of leg 52 between which extend bottom 56 and top 54 of the leg. The legs in this example are elongate in the longitudinal direction of the assembly 22 and extend from adjacent member 30 to adjacent member 28 of the assembly.

Each of the legs has a pair of spaced-apart recesses extending downwards from their tops in this example. This is seen in FIG. 3 as recesses 62 and 64 of leg 52 which extend downwards from the top 54 of the leg towards the bottom 56 of the leg. Each of the recesses is rectangular in side view in this example. The recesses 62 and 64 of the legs 50 and 52 are shaped to receive respective ones of the brace members 36 and 38. In this example the recesses are shaped such that members 36 and 38 press-fit therewithin to couple the legs to the members. The legs 50 and 52 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to members 36 and 38 of the frame assembly 22 in this embodiment.

In this example the recesses 62 and 64 are also shaped such that top 24 of the frame assembly 22 aligns with the tops 54 of the legs 50 and 52. Referring to FIG. 1, the tops 54 of the legs couple to mesh 46 via fasteners, in this example staples and the legs thus provide further support to the mesh.

As seen in FIG. 3, leg 50 extends parallel with, extends adjacent to, and is inwardly-spaced-apart from side member 32 of the frame assembly 22 in this example. Leg 52 extends parallel with, extends adjacent to, and is inwardly-spaced from the side member 34 of the frame assembly. Also in this example, ends 58 of the legs are inwardly spaced-apart from end member 28 of the frame assembly and ends 60 of the legs are inwardly spaced-apart from the end portions of the end member 30 of the frame assembly. Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, members 28, 30, 32 and 34 of the frame assembly 22 are outwardly spaced-apart from the legs 50 and 52 of the ironing board assembly 20.

As seen in FIG. 4, the legs function in part to elevate the frame assembly 22 and covering 48 to enable the item of clothing to at least partially extend around edges of the frame assembly.

Referring to FIG. 3, in this example each of the legs has an aperture extending therethrough adjacent to its end 58. This is shown by aperture 66 for leg 52. The apertures 66 are slot-shaped in this example and extend from tops 54 of the legs towards bottoms 56 thereof. Each of the apertures 66 is shaped to receive an electrical cord (not shown) therethrough.

As seen in FIG. 3, the ironing board assembly 20 includes magnets, in this example a pair of spaced-apart magnetic strips 68 and 70 coupled to the bottoms 56 of the legs 50 and 52, respectively. In this embodiment, the strips 68 and 70 are rectangular prisms in shape, extend between the ends 58 and 60 of the legs, and are coextensive with the bottoms 56 of the legs. Also, each of the magnetic strips comprises rubber-like flexible strips in this example which may be purchased in coils like tape.

Referring to FIG. 4, the magnetic strips are configured to selectively magnetically couple the ironing board assembly 20 to a ferromagnetic metal surface, in this example the top 72 of a household appliance such as a front-loaded washing machine or, in this example, a clothes dryer 74 made of a ferromagnetic material, in this case sheet steel. The dryer has a width W. The length L of the ironing board assembly 20 is substantially equal to or less than the width W of the dryer 74 in this example.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an ironing board assembly 20.1 according to a second aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functionings as the ironing board assembly 20 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 with the addition of decimal extension “0.1”. Ironing board assembly 20.1 is substantially the same as ironing board assembly 20 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 with the following exceptions.

Assembly 20.1 further includes a receptacle 76 shaped to receive and store a clothes iron 78. The receptacle is drawer-like and is slidably coupled to the legs 50.1 and 52.1 of the ironing board assembly in this example via a slide rail assembly 80. The slide rail assembly is coupled in part to the inner sides 82 and 84 of legs 50.1 and 52.1 in this example. The receptacle 76 so configured is moveable from a retracted position, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6, in which the receptacle is substantially disposed between legs 50.1 and 52.1, to an extended position, shown in solid lines, in which the receptacle is substantially extended away from ends 58.1 of the legs.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show an ironing board assembly 20.2 according to a third aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functionings as the ironing board assembly 20 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 with the addition of decimal extension “0.2”. Ironing board assembly 20.2 is substantially the same as ironing board assembly 20 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 with the following exceptions.

Ironing board assembly 20.2 includes a base 86 comprising a pair of stands 88 and 90 pivotally coupled at proximal ends 92 to the frame assembly 22.2. As seen in FIG. 8, assembly 20.2 comprises a support 92 of integrally connected together elongate portions 50.2 and 52.2, and arcuate-shaped portion 94 in this example. The support is u-shaped in top and bottom profile in this example. As seen in FIG. 9, the top 54.2 of the support 92 is arcuate-shaped and the bottom 56.2 of the support is planar and flat.

As seen in FIG. 8, assembly 20.2 includes a magnet in the form of a magnetic strip comprising elongate portions 68.2 and 70.2 and arcuate-shaped portion 96.

The portions of the strip are integrally connected together in this example. As seen in FIG. 9, the magnetic strip couples to and is contiguous with the bottom 56.2 of support 92 in this example.

FIGS. 10 to 13 show an ironing board assembly 20.3 according to a fourth aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functionings as the ironing board assembly 20.2 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 with decimal extension “0.3” replacing decimal extension “0.2” and being added for numbers not previously having a decimal extension. Ironing board assembly 20.3 is substantially the same as ironing board assembly 20.2 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 with the following exceptions.

As seen in FIG. 12, support 92.3 is circular in cross-section in this example. The support has a diameter D.

Referring to FIG. 10, assembly 20.3 includes a plurality of magnetic mounting accessories, in this example a pair of elongate accessories 98 and 100 extending along elongate portion 52.3 of the support 92.3, a pair of elongate accessories 102 and 104 seen in FIG. 11 extending along elongate portion 50.3 of the support, and arcuate-shaped accessory 106 extending along arcuate-shaped portion 94.3 of the support. Elongate accessories 98, 100, 102 and 104 are generally rectangular prisms in shape in this example.

As seen in FIG. 13, each of the accessories 98 has an elongate top 108, an elongate, planar bottom 110, a pair of spaced-apart ends 112 and 114 and a pair of spaced-apart sides 116 and 118. Each accessory has a recessed portion 120 which extends between the ends 112 and 114 thereof and which extends from the top 108 towards the bottom 110 thereof. The recessed portion is generally circular in cross-section. Each accessory 98 includes a pair of spaced-apart, elongate protrusions 122 and 124 which are positioned between the sides 116 and 118 of the accessory. The protrusions extend along top 108 between ends 112 and 114 of the accessory in this example. The distance of separation X between the protrusions 122 and 124 is equal to less than of the diameter D of the support seen in FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 13, recessed portion 120 is shaped to press-fit with the support 92.4 seen in FIG. 16. As seen in FIG. 13, the protrusions 122 and 124 are made of a resilient material and deflect outwards from each other, as seen by arrows of numerals 126 and 128, when the support seen in FIG. 16 is pushed into the recessed region of the accessory 98. The accessories may thus be said to receive at least a portion of the base of the ironing board assembly and may be selectively removable therefrom thereafter.

As seen in FIG. 13, each accessory 98 includes a magnet, in this example a magnetic strip 70.3 coupled to the bottom 110 thereof. The magnetic strip substantially extends along, covers and is contiguous with the bottom of the accessory in this example.

In this manner, the accessories 98, 100, 102, 104 and 106 seen in FIG. 11 enable a user to retrofit their ironing board assembly so that it may be selectively magnetically coupled to a household appliance, such as the clothes dryer 74 seen in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 14 to 18 show an ironing board assembly 20.4 according to a fifth aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functionings as the ironing board assembly 20.3 shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 with the addition of decimal extension “0.4”. Ironing board assembly 20.4 is substantially the same as ironing board assembly 20.3 shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 with the following exceptions.

Referring to FIG. 15, each of the magnetic mounting accessories 98.4, 100.4, 102.4, 104.4, and 106.4 comprises two parts, as seen by parts 130 and 132 for accessory 98.4. As seen in FIG. 17, part 130 forms a first half 134 of recessed portion 120.4 and part 132 forms a second half 136 of the recessed portion. Each part has a recess which is semi-circular. As seen in FIG. 18, the recessed portion 120.4 of the accessory 98.4 is circular in cross-section and positioned between the top 108.4 and bottom 110.4 of the accessory in this example. The halves of the recessed portion are extendable about the support 92.4 seen in FIG. 16.

Referring to FIG. 17, part 130 includes an elongate latch 138 that is hook-shaped in cross-section in this example. The latch couples to and extends along the top 108.4 of part 130 of the accessory 98.4. Part 130 includes an elongate recess 140 adjacent to the top 108.4 and which extends upwards relative to half 134 of the recessed portion 120.4 and latch 138. The elongate recess 140 is rectangular in cross-section and is interposed between the latch and half 134 of the recessed portion.

As seen in FIG. 17, part 132 includes a trough 142 extending along the top thereof. The trough is in the form of a pair of spaced-apart elongate protrusions 144 and 146 with an elongate recess 148 extending therebetween. The recess is shaped to receive the latch 138 of when the parts 130 and 132 of the accessory 98.4 so extend about the support 92.4 seen in FIG. 16. As seen in FIG. 18, protrusion 146 aligns with side 118.4 of the accessory and the latch 138 abuts protrusion 146 when the latch is received within recess 148. Protrusion 144 is received within recess 140 when the parts of the accessory 98.4 are coupled together in this example.

It will be appreciated that many variations are possible within the scope of the invention described herein. It will be understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details provided above are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be determined with reference to at least the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An ironing board assembly comprising: a planar member having a bottom and a top upon which items may be ironed; at least one horizontally-extending support having a bottom and a top coupled to the bottom of the planar member; and a magnet operatively connected to the bottom of the at least one horizontally-extending support.
 2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support is substantially a rectangular prism in shape.
 3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support is u-shaped in top profile.
 4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the magnet is part of a magnetic strip.
 5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top of the support is arcuate shaped and wherein the bottom of the support is planar.
 6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, the items to be ironed being clothing, and wherein the assembly further includes a second magnet and a second horizontally-extending support having a bottom to which the second magnet couples and a top coupled to the bottom of the planar member, the magnets enabling the ironing board assembly to selectively magnetically connect to a surface made of a ferromagnetic material, the supports being elongate in the longitudinal direction, and the supports functioning to elevate the planar member to enable the clothing to at least partially extend around the planar member.
 7. The assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the magnets are coextensive with the bottoms of the supports.
 8. The assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the planar member comprises a pair of spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending frame members each of which is spaced-apart outwardly from an adjacent one of the supports and wherein the planar member comprises a pair of spaced-apart, laterally-extending frame members which couple to and extend between the longitudinally-extending frame members and the supports.
 9. The assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the planar member includes a rigid peripheral portion which is outwardly spaced-apart from the supports and wherein the planar member includes at least one rigid laterally-extending portion which is coupled to the peripheral portion and which extends between and couples to the supports.
 10. The assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the planar member includes a pair of rigid, spaced-apart, laterally-extending frame members and wherein each of the supports has a pair of spaced-apart recesses extending downwards from a top thereof, the recesses of the supports being shaped to receive respective ones of the laterally-extending frame members.
 11. In combination, an appliance having a top and the ironing board assembly as claimed in claim 1, the magnet of the ironing board assembly being configured to selectively magnetically adhere to the top of the appliance, the appliance being one of a dryer machine and a washing machine.
 12. An ironing board assembly comprising: a frame assembly having a top and a bottom spaced-apart from the top, and comprising a pair of spaced-apart end members, a pair of spaced-apart longitudinally-extending members coupled to and extending between the end members and a pair of spaced-apart, laterally-extending members interposed between the end members, the laterally-extending members coupling to and extending between the longitudinally-extending members; a mesh extending along the top of the frame assembly and upon which an item of clothing may be ironed; a pair of spaced-apart, horizontally-extending supports coupled to the bottom of the frame assembly, the supports having bottoms spaced-apart from the frame assembly; and at least one magnet coupled to the bottom of a respective one of the supports for magnetically coupling the ironing board assembly to a top of a household appliance.
 13. The assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the supports have tops spaced-apart from the bottoms, wherein the top of the frame assembly aligns with the tops of the supports and wherein the tops of the supports couple to and provide further support to the mesh.
 14. The assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the supports extend longitudinally from near a first one of the end members of the frame assembly to near a second one of the end members of the frame assembly, wherein the supports are spaced-spaced inwardly from the end members of the frame assembly and wherein the supports are spaced-apart inwardly from the longitudinally-extending members of the frame assembly.
 15. The assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least one of the supports has an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture being shaped to receive an electrical cord therethrough.
 16. The assembly as claimed in claim 12 further including a receptacle for storing a clothes iron, the receptacle slidably connecting to the supports and being moveable from a retracted position in which the receptacle is substantially disposed between the supports to an extended position in which the receptacle extends substantially away from the supports.
 17. The assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the household appliance is a clothes dryer having a width and wherein the assembly has a length extending between the end members of the frame assembly which is substantially equal to or less than the width of the clothes dryer.
 18. A magnetic mounting accessory for an ironing board assembly, the ironing board assembly including a base, the accessory being elongate, having a recessed portion shaped to receive at least a portion of the base of the ironing board assembly, having an elongate bottom, and including a magnet coupled to said bottom, the magnet enabling the ironing board assembly to selectively magnetically connect to a surface made of a ferromagnetic material.
 19. The accessory as claimed in claim 18, wherein the accessory is substantially a rectangular prism in shape and wherein the recessed portion of the accessory is shaped to press fit with said portion of the base of the ironing board assembly.
 20. The accessory as claimed in claim 18, wherein the accessory comprises two parts which are extendable about said portion of the base of the ironing board assembly, a first of the parts including a latch and a second of the parts having a recess shaped to receive the latch when the parts of the accessory so extend about the portion of the base of the ironing board assembly. 